Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/07/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  PS Builders hired to restore downstairs following home flood. Partial work initiated then ****** **** with PS Builders vanished upon receiving 2nd installment for a total of 22,000.00.
  
  My family includes my wife, 12 year old daughter and 15 year old son, are currently residing in hazardous & unhealthy conditions due to going on 11 days of PS Builders (owner ****** ****) going MIA without justification.
  
  This business and its owner have been consistently dishonest, condescending and has been over charging for items and tasks never completed or necessary to complete.
  The moment my wife and I asked for the fraudulent charges to be corrected, ****** **** disappeared.
  
  We also learned why he was insisting on paying checks to his name as he currently refuses to provide us a W9 to exclude us from his tax liability.
  
  Please help us rectify our situation. If any business has taken advantage of a desperate family, this is our situation. Please help!

  Business Response

  Date: 11/14/2022

  Good afternoon ******,
  
  First, I want to thank you for your time and involvement in this complaint.
  
  I have included both, **** ****** and his wife **** ****** in this email so that I'm completely transparent as I have been from the beginning.
  
  I have been honest and straight to the point and never miss leading the ******* and have never abbandent any jobs in my 35 years in business, ***** is misquoting the truth.
  
  Here are the facts:
  - 03/01/2022 received home address from *****
  - 03/02/2022 met with ***** and **** and discussed the project. I left our work authorization form with them to sign when they are ready to hire
  - 03/06/2022 we texted them photos of our kitchen jobs finished as references
  - 03/22/2022 ***** asked for the work authorization form again
  - 03/23/2022 we emailed him the work authorization
  - 03/26/2022 ***** signed our work authorization and hired us in as the contractor on the job (attached "wa signed")
  - 04/03/2022 we emailed State Farm (SF) and the ******* our restoration scope report of $55,844.77 along with the pack out report of $4,403.51 (both report are attached and the restoration report "****** restore"shows the home in its current condition. The pack out report is "****** pack")
  - 05/06/2022 ***** notified us that SF has an approved budget of $42,050.50 (which was sent to the ****** on 04/28/2022 by SF) I requested that report as we would need to review it and write a supplemental report for items SF left off)
  - 05/26/2022 **** called and said that they would like to move forward. I requested the SF report from her
  - 05/27/2022 I received SF report from **** which is attached "Adjusters scope"
  - 05/28/2022 to 06/02/2022 we reviewed SF report and mentioned that SF did not include new countertops and plumbing among few other smaller things. I suggested that we try to remove the existing countertops and if they break, we would write up a supplemental report for SF to cover it as we had it included in our original report dated 04/03/2022. ******* agreed and we scheduled the crew.
  - 06/14/2022 crew arrived to remove existing countertops and plumbing (granite tops broke)
  - 06/14/2022 drywall work scheduled 
  - 06/16/2022 drywall and insulation completed
  - 06/20/2022 I informed ***** that there will be no crew on site this week
  - 07/01/2022 ***** said that he spoke to the adjuster Antonio and he expressed his frustration with them
  - 07/01/2022 we submitted our supplemental report to SF of $13,734.15 and also cc the ******* (attached "****** sup")
  - 07/20/2022 SF revised their report but did not include all of our requested items. Their new total was $49,423.59
  Many conversations and texting went on regarding new island cabinets and full backsplash. A quote was given to them regarding the new island and full backsplash granite. Many weeks went by and we met on site designing and discussing the island. They have also met with the cabinet foreman on site regarding design. ***** insisted that the insurance should pay for the old unaffected island and for the full height granite backsplash (which they did not have before)
  - 09/18/2022 we submitted another supplemental report to SF for $16,383.51  (attached "Riddle-rev2-1")
  - 10/02/2022 SF revised their report to $63,121.88 which we have agreed to (attached "adjuster october scope report")
  - 10/12/2022 **** signed off on island cabinet shop drawing so we could start scheduling lower cabinet production (attached "signed island drawing" and "signed island drawing 2)
  - 10/20/2022 text conversation was going on from 10/12 - 10/20 regarding the cabinets and again it was all finalized. I mentioned to the ******* that we are now going to start cutting for cabinet boxes. The schedule for the following week was: Monday pack out, Tuesday removing existing flooring and Wednesday schedule to start installing new flooring. 
  - 10/21/2022 I also texted ******* that **** will be there on Monday and Tuesday as well prepping and spraying cabinet face frames. Also that the storage container will arrive on Monday and we would pack them back as soon as the new flooring is installed along with new baseboards painted.
  - 10/21/2022 ***** replied that he will be doing the pack out and pack back and will keep the $4,403.51. I explained to him that actually we are documented with SF that we would be doing that portion of the job also but he refused and wanted to do the pack out himself. There is an actual fee from us indicated on the back page of our work authorization of $1,800.00 in the event a homeowner tries to do this. (we have not charged him this fee yet). ***** also said that he wants to "stretch every penny he received from SF". Once again I told him that as it was agreed in March when we got hired that we will do the restoration per approved and agreed budget set forth by the insurance. ***** requested a project invoice.
  - 10/21/2022 we emailed the project invoice which is the same amount as SF report of $63,121,88 and asked it to be signed as we have indicated the progress payment as well. (attached "project invoice)
  - 10/21/2022 cabinets installed
  - 10/22/2022 ***** asked to have the island cabinets moved over a few inches
  - 10/23/2022 ***** confirmed that he will be ready for us in the morning to remove existing flooring. I also reminded him that I would need to pick up the next progress payment of $12,000.00
  - 10/24/2022 Cabinet crew relocated island and started on cabinet painting / prep. Also another crew was there removing existing flooring. (not all items were removed from the house by ***** as asked for). ***** did not sign our invoice but requested a line item report and not just a "verses paragraph verbiage" as he mentioned to one of our crew members that he will be doing some of the work as well.
  - 10/25/2022 we emailed ****** our itemized scope report of $61,477.57 excluding from the original approved report items that would be done by them. (attached "RIDDLEOWNERSCOPE)
  - 10/26/2022 In the morning I texted that the paint store did not have our cabinet lacquer color read yet and no crew will be coming out except for me picking up the check. Floor crew rescheduled for Friday as Thursday is needed to spray cabinets. I picked up the $12,000.00 check
  - 10/27/2022 cabinet crew returned to spray cabinets. I also reminded ***** that I need a signature on the scope of work to confirm work to be done by us or I can not hire in and schedule flooring crew.  
  - 10/31/2022 I again asked ***** to review our scope report and confirm with a signature.
  -11/01/2022 received email from ***** requesting revisions on the report as he would like to do some additional work himself
  - 11/03/2022 I emailed our revised scope report of $59,439.01 which still had the progress payment included for review and signature
  (attached "Riddlerev-2")
  - 11/09/2022 ***** emailed us requesting our W-9 for the $22,000.00 they paid to us "****** and ****** ****" along with quote "Complete the cabinet work we have already fully funded and left abandoned by your company.  Or, refund our monies so we can fund the restoration elsewhere." 
  - We have not "abandoned" the project nor ever thought to do so as it could be followed up with our previous actions.-
  - Earlier this year, we were collecting information as how to close our business for several reasons "PS Builders, Inc" and on 08/08/2022 Secretary of State approved our request to file "Certificate of Dissolution". (********). Our Contractor License #****** will be or should have been canceled on or around 10/07/2022. Since we had the contract signed with the ******* in March, we are standing behind our commitment and helping them along the way and for us to restore their home. Our tax identification number for PS Builders, Inc is ********** in case ***** still needs it.
  Suggested resolutions:
  1. We will continue the full restoration per scope $59,439.01 confirming with a signature of acceptance.
  
  2. We could paint the new doors which are stored at our facility and install them which will make the cabinets complete. The total scope of work is $21,982.74 (attached "riddlerev-2-2") plus the floor material cost of $5,286.36 (attached "cali sales order"). Invoice ******* is attached which has a balance due of $5,269.10 if we are to finish the cabinets.
  
  3. We could deliver to the home the "unpainted" cabinet doors, not finish the rest of the toe kick, shelves installation etc and leave cabinets as is condition which would save the ******* $2,158.33 (attached invoice *******)
  
  Regarding ***** ****** complaint:
  - "vanished" . As it could be seen I have not vanished but all along on the job providing requested information to him as he requested
  - "hazardous & unhealthy conditions at the home". It is exactly what he asked us to do. There is no flooring, no kitchen countertops and no plumbing in the kitchen. The bathroom cabinet and plumbing ***** removed. Just for the record that it was not our company who tore apart the kitchen in the first place. 
  - "MIA without justification". I was never missing in action as it could be seen that I was honest and straight with my actions and request
  - "fraudulent charges". There has never been any such thing as all costs came from the SF approved charges and their database. 
  
  In closing, ***** has falsely accused me with all the items listed in his complaint.
  
  I'm here to comply with what is needed to move forward.
  
  Please contact me if you need any additional information.
  The best way and quickest way is by phone call or text messages as I'm not in front of the computer all day. 
  
  
  
  Thank you,
  ****** & ****** ****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/14/2022

   I am rejecting this response because:

  Dear BBB,

  Our appreciation with your oversight and involvement.  We have learned the entity PS builders, falsely represented themselves as a legitimate business after we signed an agreement with them.  We have been deceived for a span of 10 months and left in a state of disarray no family should ever have to go through.  The story has been told with accurate dates represented to include extensive legally acquired video / audio contradicting statements made by ****** ****.  

  
  

  We continued to be invoiced, with false and fraudulent charges INTO OCTOBER AFTER HIS BUSINESS HAD DISOLVED.  We have continually been requested by ****** **** to sign his paragraph invoices which include false charges for items never performed or necessary to perform.  He also credited us for a task never necessary and retained 20% in writing - for a task never necessary or carried out.  

  
  

  In addition, we nearly became responsible for his tax liability and zero scope of work reassurance without a legitimate business completing our work.  

  
  

  ****** **** is in breach of contract when he abandoned our home restoration.  The agreement clearly indicates when the third payment was due, having just provided the second payment in time the day prior.  We are now being held hostage with materials we have already fully funded.  We accepted and communicated to ****** today that we agreed to purchase the unfinished materials he quoted in his reply at the cost of $2,100.  Upon my wife communicating this to him in email, he stated we must pay additional monies to retrieve our cabinet doors.  Again, ****** **** presented us with an arbitration option we accepted, only to now hold our materials (we have already funded) until we fund additional monies he is not owed.  This continued dishonesty and deception while our family is exhausted and just want some normalcy back in our lives.

  
  

  At this stage, we are choosing to proceed with criminal charges against ****** **** due to the situation our family has been placed in.  Legal representation and involvement from Caldwell Banker have been initiated while other customers are being included who have experienced similar and unfortunate circumstances.  We are determined to ensure no other family is taken advantage of in the future.  The response that he provided which included he will not waste his time reading our reply within this thread, transparently highlights his lack of compassion for his clients. 

  
  

  Our attempt to arbitrate has failed due to ****** **** presenting us with an option, our agreement then informed no until we provide what feels like ransom for cupboard doors we have already fully funded.  We only desire to receive our unfinished materials which I assume is a financial loss for him not selling.  We agreed to the 2,100 cost and will walk away content with this option should ****** **** agree to his own proposal.  We will not sign his paragraph invoices with false charges on a business letterhead that does not exist.  We will also not provide any additional monies above the additional 2,100 which he is not owed merely to obtain our materials.

  
  

  Respectfully, 

  
  

  ***** & **** ******

  
  
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/16/2022

  Thank you for your response.